This fashion software business is Tailr-made for success
The company’s mission is to sign up international brands and make a genuine change in an industry ripe for digital innovation
Tailr
Founded by: Shana Chu in 2021
Staff: 7
Funding: €700,000
Tailr, the Irish fashion software company, has raised €700,000 in its latest round of funding. The lead investor was Delta Partners, with others taking part in the round including UK Haatch, Enterprise Ireland and angel investors.
The company, which was founded in 2021 by Shana Chu, has created technology that helps brands produce clothing that is consistent in size.
“When someone goes into their favourite shop to buy a piece of clothing, and it doesn't fit, there’s a strong chance that it wasn’t produced correctly,” Chu told the Business Post.
“We’re preventing that from happening, so when someone knows their size in that shop, they can go in and – no matter what the product is – pick it up and buy it.”
Chu worked as a garment technologist for over a decade, producing fire suits and arc protective wear. She designed the detailed blueprints to produce the garments, and it is this experience that inspired her to create Tailr.
“As part of that role, I would certify the garments for all the relevant standards, and I would visit the factories. It involved spending time on the factory floor and seeing how the production worked, and seeing how the fabric was handled during production,” she said.
The company has recently added a seventh employee to its staff and appointed Magnus Kanholt as its chief technology officer.
Chu said that since founding Tailr, she has had conversations with many fashion brands and factories that have voiced their frustrations regarding the need for clear and up-to-date information regarding blueprints for garment production.
“Technology can be utilised to solve these issues. We’re bringing communication and transparency to the process to remove those frustrations for everyone,” she said.
Chu said Tailr got off to a fast start after reaching out to six top brands to pitch its services. All six signed up for testing and began demanding the service immediately.
“It was within a 30-minute phone call – the companies were like, ‘Yes, we need this right away.’ There was a clear trajectory for us,” she said.
“There are brands that are constantly putting pressure on us, saying that they need it right now and asking when they can have it. That is a clear indication from industry that the vision we have is needed.”
Chu said Enterprise Ireland was a big help at the start of the business, and she availed of every service possible. In addition to providing competitive start funding and taking part in the New Frontiers programme, Chu credited Enterprise Ireland with helping the company scale into European and US markets.
“I’ve been in touch with the offices in New York and in London too. They’re a great help, particularly on introductions, and even giving me a place to work when I’m there,” she said.
Chu said that the company’s goal is to change the fashion industry with its unprecedented approach to fabric sizing.
“Our big goal and mission is to make a genuine change in the industry. It’s kind of ripe for digital innovation at the minute, so our main goal is to sign up international brands to make a genuine change,” she said.
